120. Documentation for Robert Ricketts Senior
(15 Jan 1765 to 14 Feb 1853)
father of John Ricketts
(01 Feb 1787 to 23 Feb 1843)
Robert Ricketts Senior, Fourth Great-Grandfather of Curtis Lynn Older:
1) Robert Ricketts Senior, husband of (unknown), parents of John Ricketts
2) John Ricketts, husband of Mary Goodner, parents of Jacob Ricketts
3) Jacob Ricketts, husband of Melissa Jane Barnard, parents of Elizabeth Jane Ricketts
4) Elizabeth Jane Ricketts, wife of Daniel Alexander Fox, parents of Ethel Belle Fox
5) Ethel Belle Fox, wife of Robert William Gouty, parents of Mavis Lorene Gouty
6) Mavis Lorene Gouty, wife of Truxton James Older, parents of Curtis Lynn Older
Download Adobe Acrobat File - 120. Robert Ricketts Senior - (The file has the following text plus images.)
Download Adobe Acrobat File - Sons of the American Revolution Approved Supplemental Application for Robert Ricketts Senior
Robert Ricketts Senior was born January 15, 1765, near Hagerstown, Maryland according to his Revolutionary War pension claim as confirmed in a letter from Commissioner Winfield Scott to Mrs. W. H. Shonts on May 7, 1927.(1) Also confirmed in the same letter by the Commissioner, "He was allowed pension on his application executed September 18, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Dearborn County, Indiana”.(2) He died February 14, 1853.(3) His widow died February 20, 1853.(4)
Robert Ricketts Senior served during the American Revolutionary War.(5) At the time he entered service, Robert Ricketts Senior lived in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.(6) Robert Ricketts Senior is buried in the Mount Carmel Cemetery in Aberdeen, Ohio County, Indiana, in section 22, grave number 117.(7)
Land records for Robert Ricketts Senior mention two of his sons and their wives. Dearborn County, Indiana, land purchases by Robert Ricketts Senior in 1819 and 1822 mention the names of sons Robert Junior and John Ricketts and the names of their wives as Ann LaRue and Mary respectively.(8)
Robert married Unknown (NOT Susannah Willson). NO - She was a daughter of Robert Wilson and his wife Mary Douglas and was born about 1767.(9) Robert Wilson was born about 1718 in St. Andrews, County Fife, Scotland, and died August 18, 1794, in Montgomery County, Maryland.(10) Robert Wilson, a patriot, signed the Oath of Fidelity, 1778, in Montgomery County, Md.(11) Mary Douglas was born about 1718 at Bowles Plantation in Charles County, Maryland, and died June 27, 1790.(12) Robert Wilson and Mary Douglas were married April 1, 1740, in Charles County, Maryland.(13) Robert and Susannah Wilson are buried in Monocacy Cemetery, Beallsville, Montgomery County, Maryland.(14)
“Dearborn County was formed as part of the Indiana Territory in 1803, and its borders were modified several times, both before and after the creation of the state of Indiana in 1816. Switzerland County was formed from part of Dearborn County in 1814. Ohio County also came out of Dearborn County, but not until much later in March 1844. It was named for the Ohio River, which defines its eastern border.”(15)
A 1790 census record for the Robert Ricketts Senior household has not been found. The 1800 United States Census for Maryland, Montgomery County, District #3 lists the Robert Ricketts Senior family as consisting of one male under age 10, one male age 26 to 44, one female under 10, one female age 16 thru 25, and one female age 26 thru 44.(16) If John Ricketts, son of Robert Ricketts Senior was born in 1787, he would have been about 13 years old at the time of the 1800 census. The census record lists only one male child, and he is 10 years of age or under, however. The family of Nathan Ricketts appears on the next line after the Robert Ricketts family.
The 1810 United States Census for Maryland lists the Nathan Ricketts family directly above the Robert Ricketts family.(17) John Ricketts probably was 23 years old in 1810 and may have been living outside the Robert Ricketts Senior household. A census record for John Ricketts in 1810 has not been found.
1820 census records for Randolph Township, Dearborn County, Indiana, list households for two William Rickets, Nathan Rickets Junior, Nathan Rickets, Abraham Rickets, Edward Rickets, John Rickets, Robert Rickets, and Robert Rickets Senior. The John Rickets household consisted of one male between the ages of 26 and 45 years of age, which does leave open the possibility John was born in 1787. John apparently was engaged in agriculture according to the census. There was one female age 16 to 26 and two females under age 10 in the household. This would be consist with the date of birth of February 22, 1826, for Jacob Ricketts, son of John Ricketts. Jacob probably was named after his grandfather, Jacob Goodner.
The 1830 census record for Dearborn County, Randolph Township, Indiana lists Robert, Nathan, William, Robert Junior, John, and Edward Ricketts households.(18) The Robert Ricketts family consisted of one male 60 and under 70 years of age and one female 60 and under 70 years of age. Since Robert Ricketts Senior was born in 1765, this is the proper age for him in the census record. The John Ricketts household also is listed in 1830 Vermillion County, Indiana census and it would appear the family moved from Dearborn County, Indiana to Vermillion County, Indiana at that time.(19) A deed from Aaron Purcell to John Ricketts, dated August 20, 1830, supports this idea. This land was probably adjacent to the land of Thomas Gouty.
Both of the John Ricketts household census records for 1830 indicate a male child of under five years of age, which would be correct for the first son of John Ricketts and his wife Mary, Jacob Ricketts, born February 22, 1826. Both census records indicate one male of age 30 and under 40. This again would support the idea that John Ricketts was born later than 1787 or perhaps that his age was simply misstated on the census records.
The 1840 census record for the John Ricketts family living in Highland Township, Vermillion County, Indiana, does indicate the senior male in that family, presumably John, was 50 and under 60 years of age. This would support a birth date of 1790 or earlier for John. Also, one male age 10 and under 15 which would be correct for Jacob Ricketts.
An 1850 census record for Ohio County, Indiana, lists a Robert Rickets, age 85, male, farmer, value of land $6,500, born in Maryland. A Susan Rickets, age 83, female, born is Maryland appears next. Living with Robert and Susan Rickets is a Elloner Conover, age 13, female, born in Indiana.(20)
The Estate Papers of Robert Ricketts Senior lists the names of his thirteen heirs as:(21)
1) John Ricketts's heirs(22)
2) Phebe Sheridan
3) Hannah Buchanan, who is dead, leaving nine heirs
4) William Ricketts
5) Susanna Moulton
6) Robert Ricketts Junior
7) Isaac Ricketts
8) Edward Ricketts
9) Elizabeth Blankenship, (formerly Elizabeth Larew wife of Garret Larew)
10) Rebecca Winings
11) Margaret Kelso's heirs
12) Sarah Winings
13) Vienna Mouton (wife of Jeremiah Mouton)
Various internet sites presenting information regarding the brothers and sisters of John Ricketts and have provided the following information which agrees with the estate papers of Robert Ricketts Senior. The author has not obtained documentation to support the following information. Some of the information appears in two books which were written by authors who have studied the Robert Ricketts Senior family in some depth.(23)
John Ricketts was born February 1, 1787, and died February 23, 1843, in Highland Township, Vermillion County, Indiana, according to his tombstone dates. He married Mary Goodner about the year 1817.
Phebe (Pheobe) Ricketts was born in 1788 or 1789 in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. She died about 1866 in Cave-in-Rock, Hardin County, Illinois. She married James Sheridan. He was born about 1780 in Pennsylvania and died in the 1860s. He fell from a boat on the Ohio River.
Hannah Ricketts was born in 1790 or 1791 and died February 13, 1853 at Brown Township, Ripley County, Indiana. Buried in Buchanan Cemetery, Ripley County, Indiana. She married Wilson Buchanan, his second wife. She is buried in the Buchanan Cemetery. Wilson Buchanan was born about 1775 in New York and died April 19, 1851.
William Ricketts was born January 26, 1792, in Mason County, Kentucky. He died April 1, 1874, at Washington, Woodford County, Illinois. He is buried at Market St. Cemetery, Washington, Tazwell County, Illinois.
Susannah Ricketts was born February 21, 1794, in Mason County, Kentucky. She died December 10, 1861, in Decatur County, Indiana. She married John Moulton. He was born March 23, 1793, in Pennsylvania and died May 8, 1844, in Decatur County, Indiana. They are buried in the Springer Cemetery, Decatur County, Indiana.
Robert Ricketts Junior was born July 14, 1795, in Mason County, Kentucky. He died April 6, 1864, in Moorefield, Pleasant Twp., Switzerland County, Indiana. He married Ann Larew. She was born June 7, 1794, in Pennsylvania and died January 18, 1877. They are buried in the Ebenezer Cemetery in Moorefield, Indiana. Garrett Larew was a brother of Ann Larew and a brother-in-law of John Ricketts.(24) Robert Ricketts Junior was the administrator of the Robert Ricketts Senior estate.(25)
Isaac Ricketts was born September 15, 1798, in Mason County, Kentucky. He married Catherine Mountz on January 22, 1822, in Switzerland County, Indiana. He died September 27, 1875, in Paradise, Coles County, Illinois.
Edward Ricketts was born in 1798 or 1799 in Mason County, Kentucky. He died July 19, 1885, in Greensburg, Washington Twp., Decatur County, Indiana. He married Leah Cloud in Decatur County, Indiana. She died July 1?, 1885, at age 85.
Elizabeth Ricketts was born January 18, 1801 in Mason County, Kentucky, and died July 14, 1865, in Montgomery County, Indiana. She married 1st: Garret Larew on April 17, 1817. He was born in 1796 and died in 1840. She married 2nd: John W. Blankenship of Wayne Twp, Montgomery County, Indiana. She is buried at Potts Cemetery, Elmdale, Montgomery County, Indiana.(26)
Rebecca Ricketts was born January 3,1803, in Mason County, Kentucky, and died December 23, 1885, at age 82 in Rising Sun, Ohio County, Indiana. She married Daniel Wining. She is buried at Cedar Ridge Cemetery, Rising Sun, Ohio County, Indiana.
Margaret Ricketts was born April 24, 1806, in Dearborn County, Indiana, and died March 3, 1854, in Versailles, Ripley County, Indiana. She married Daniel E. Kelso on May 3, 1825, in Dearborn County, Indiana. He was born December 18, 1803, in Verango County, Pennsylvania, and died November 25, 1857, in Versailles, Indiana.
Sarah Ricketts was born December 24, 1807, in Dearborn County, Indiana. She married Abraham Winings and lived in Ohio County, Indiana. She died March 1863 in Ohio County, Indiana.
Vienna Ricketts was born about 1810 in Dearborn County, Indiana. She married a Moulton. She died about 1856 in Woodford County, Illinois.(27)
REFERENCES
(1) National Archives records for Robert Ricketts Senior, includes a letter from Winfield Scott, Commissioner, Revolution and 1812 Wars Section, dated May 7, 1927, to Mrs. W. H. Shonts of South Bend, Ind., which refers to a Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 17047, for Robert Ricketts Senior.
(2) National Archives records for Robert Ricketts Senior, include a letter from Winfield Scott, Commissioner, Revolution and 1812 Wars Section, dated May 7, 1927, to Mrs. W. H. Shonts of South Bend, Ind., which refers to a Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 17047, for Robert Ricketts Senior.
(3) Letter from J. W. Chapman, Pension Agent, Pension Agency at Madison, Indiana, dated December 21, 1852. The date of the letter appears to be an error and should have been December 21, 1853. Also see, National Archives records for Robert Ricketts Senior, includes a letter from Winfield Scott, Commissioner, Revolution and 1812 Wars Section, dated May 7, 1927, to Mrs. W. H. Shonts of South Bend, Ind., which refers to a Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 17047, for Robert Ricketts Senior. “He died February 14, 1853, leaving a widow and eleven children, their names not stated.”
(4) Letter from J. W. Chapman, Pension Agent, Pension Agency at Madison, Indiana, dated December 21, 1852. The date of the letter appears to be an error and should have been December 21, 1853. Also see, National Archives records for Robert Ricketts Senior, includes a letter from Winfield Scott, Commissioner, Revolution and 1812 Wars Section, dated May 7, 1927, to Mrs. W. H. Shonts of South Bend, Ind., which refers to a Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 17047, for Robert Ricketts Senior. “His widow died February 20, 1853.”
(5) National Archives records for Robert Ricketts Senior, includes a letter from Winfield Scott, Commissioner, Revolution and 1812 Wars Section, dated May 7, 1927, to Mrs. W. H. Shonts of South Bend, Ind., which refers to a Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 17047, for Robert Ricketts Senior. “He enlisted in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, in 1780 as a private in Captain James Johnson’s Company in Colonel Piper’s Pennsylvania Regiment and served three months. While living in Kishacoquillas Valley, Pennsylvania, he enlisted in 1782 and served three months and seven days as a private in Captain Baberts, Samuel’s, and Bowls’ Pennsylvania Companies. He was allowed pension on his application executed September 18, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Dearborn County, Indiana.” Also, birth and death dates confirmed in Roster of Soldiers and Patriots of the American Revolution Buried in Indiana, Volume 1, page 314. Also, Pennsylvania Archives Series III, v. 23, p. 453, and, Garrett Larew Civil War Soldier, With an Account of His Ancestors and of His Descendants, by Karl G. Larew, Gateway Press, Inc. Baltimore, 1975, page 119. Also see, Muster Rolls of Militia, Captain Robert Samuel’s Company. “A pay book of Second and Third Classes of the Eighth Battalion of Cumberland County Militia, commanded by Col. Alexander Brown, who performed a tour of duty in Kishacauquillis Valley in the year 1782." List includes “Zacaria Rickets" and “Robert Rickets" Dated February 27, 1783.
(6) National Archives records for Robert Ricketts Senior, include a letter from Winfield Scott, Commissioner, Revolution and 1812 Wars Section, dated May 7, 1927, to Mrs. W. H. Shonts of South Bend, Ind., which refers to a Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 17047, for Robert Ricketts Senior.. Also see, Pension file of Nathan Ricketts, S. 32400.
(7) Maurine Collins Schmitz and Glendola Amos Peck, The Amos Family, Ancestors and Descendants of Perry Amos (1857 - 1933) and Mollie Leota Dickerson Amos (1862 - 1947) of Shelby County, Indiana, Dubuque, Iowa, 1964, pages 49 and 50. “Nathan and Robert are buried at Mt. Carmel cemetery on Highway 56. The county line passes through the cemetery lot where they are buried, leaving Nathan in Switzerland County and Robert in Ohio County.”
(8) Maurine Collins Schmitz and Glendola Amos Peck, The Amos Family, Ancestors and Descendants of Perry Amos (1857 - 1933) and Mollie Leota Dickerson Amos (1862 - 1947) of Shelby County, Indiana, Dubuque, Iowa, 1964, page 50. “History mentions Phoebe and deeds of 1819 and 1822 in Dearborn County names his sons Robert and John and their wives.” The authors then list Ann LaRue as the wife of Robert Ricketts Junior and Mary as the wife of John Ricketts.
(9) www anamericanfamilyhistory.com - Robert Wilson and Mary Douglas. No source cited.
(10) www anamericanfamilyhistory.com - Robert Wilson and Mary Douglas. No source cited.
(11) www anamericanfamilyhistory.com - Robert Wilson and Mary Douglas. No source cited.
(12) www anamericanfamilyhistory.com - Robert Wilson and Mary Douglas. No source cited.
(13) www anamericanfamilyhistory.com - Robert Wilson and Mary Douglas. No source cited.
(14) www anamericanfamilyhistory.com - Robert Wilson and Mary Douglas. No source cited.
(15) Wikipedia internet website listing for Dearborn County, Indiana.
(16) 1800 United States Census for Maryland, Montgomery County, District #3. Also see, Will of Nathan Ricketts Sr. of Ohio County, Indiana, written February 19(?), 1837, probated January 13, 1847, Book 1, page 20.
(17) 1810 United States Census for the state of Maryland.
(18) 1830 Dearborn County, Randolph Township, Indiana, U.S. federal census.
(19) 1830 Vermillion County, Indiana, U.S. federal census. Aaron Purcell and wife Moria to John Ricketts, Vermillion County, Indiana, August 13, 1830. Numbers in the upper left corner of the written deed are the number 50 printed above the number 43, probably book and or page numbers.
(20) 1850 federal census for Division No. 2, in the County of Ohio State of Indiana enumerated by me, on the 13 day of Sept. 1850, John Fair Jr. Asst Marshal.
(21) Estate Papers of Robert Ricketts, Rising Sun, Ohio County, Indiana, Court of Common Pleas, January Term 1856, Final Settlement, Estate of Robert Ricketts deceased, Robert Ricketts Jr. Administrator, page 397.
(22) Garrett Larew Civil War Soldier, With an Account of His Ancestors and of His Descendants, by Karl G. Larew, Gateway Press, Inc. Baltimore, 1975. Garrett Larew Supplement pages 60-61. The tombstone of John Ricketts, buried in the Ricketts or Mitchell Cemetery give a date of death of February 23, 1843 and a life time of 56 years and 22 days, so his date of birth would have been February 1, 1787.
(23) Garrett Larew Civil War Soldier, With an Account of His Ancestors and of His Descendants, by Karl G. Larew, Gateway Press, Inc. Baltimore, 1975. See page 62, " Garret moved to Montgomery County in 1838--perhaps because his brother-in-law, John Ricketts, was in nearby Vermillion County, Indiana (see above section for a discussion of the family of this John Ricketts)." A Supplement to this book also was published. Also see, Maurine Collins Schmitz and Glendola Amos Peck, The Amos Family, Ancestors and Descendants of Perry Amos (1857 - 1933) and Mollie Leota Dickerson Amos (1862 - 1947) of Shelby County, Indiana, Dubuque, Iowa, 1964.
(24) Garrett Larew Civil War Soldier, With an Account of His Ancestors and of His Descendants, by Karl G. Larew, Gateway Press, Inc. Baltimore, 1975. Garrett Larew Supplement page 59.
(25) Estate Papers of Robert Ricketts, Rising Sun, Ohio County, Indiana, Court of Common Pleas, January Term 1856.
(26) Garrett Larew Civil War Soldier, With an Account of His Ancestors and of His Descendants, by Karl G. Larew, Gateway Press, Inc. Baltimore, 1975. Garrett Larew Supplement.
(27) Garrett Larew Civil War Soldier, With an Account of His Ancestors and of His Descendants, by Karl G. Larew, Gateway Press, Inc. Baltimore, 1975. Garrett Larew Supplement.
APPENDIX ONE
Estate Papers of Robert Ricketts
Rising Sun, Ohio County, Indiana
Court of Common Pleas, January Term 1856
Pleas and proceedings had and held at the Court House in Rising Sun, Ohio County, state of Indiana; in the Court of common Pleas of said County before the Honorable Robert Daummond Judge of said Court at the Term of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty six.
In the matter of the Estate of Robert Ricketts Sr. deceased Robert Ricketts Jr. Administrator} Final Settlement
Be it remembered that heretofore to wit on the first day of March I the year one thousand eight hundrd and fifty three in the vacation of said Court, the clear of said Court granted to Robert Ricketts a son and heir at law of said deceased Letters of Administration of the estate of said Robert Ricketts deceased who died intestate in said County on the fourteenth day of February in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty three. And the said Administrator gave good as such according to law to the acceptance of said Clerk in the penal sum of four thousand dollars with Abram Winings and Daniel Winings as securities, the said Administrator thereupon took and subscribed the oath required by law as such administrator which said bond oath and letters of administration read in the words and figures following viz. "Know all men that we Robert Ricketts, Abram Winings, and Daniel Winings are bound unto the state of Indiana in the penal sum of four thousand dollars, for the payment of which we jointly and severally bind ourselves our heirs excecutors and administrators sealed and dated the 1st day of March 1853.
The condition of the above obligation is that if the above bound Robert Ricketts shall faithfully discharge the duties of his trust as administrator of the estate of Robert Ricketts deceased according to law then the above obligation is void else to remain in full force.
Robert Ricketts (seal)
Abram Winings (seal) Daniel Winings (seal)
Approved by me this 1st day of March 1853. John R. Ross C. C. C. P. Ohio County. State of Indiana Ohio County S S
….
To the heirs of John Ricketts deceased whose names are unknown the sum of $147.29
To Edward Ricketts $47.29
To William Ricketts $47.29
To Rebecca Winings $32.29
To Vienna Moulton $32.29
To Sarah Winings $47.29
To Phebe Sheridan $47.29
To the heirs of Hannah Buchanan who are not paid in full as follows to wit
….
That the said Robert Ricketts Sen. died leaving thirteen heirs viz. John Ricketts's heirs, Phebe Sheridan, Hannah Buchanan*, who is dead, leaving nine heirs, William Ricketts, Susanna Moulton, Robert Ricketts Jr., Isaac Ricketts, Edward Ricketts, Elizabeth Blankenship, Rebecca Winings, Margaret Kelso's heirs, Sarah Winings, and Vienna Moulton.
APPENDIX TWO
Utilizing my 23andMe.com DNA website account, I found a Robert Scott on Christmas Day 2013 who is a descendant of Hannah Buchanan, a daughter of Robert Ricketts Senior. Hannah is listed in the preceding Estate Papers of Robert Ricketts Senior. Robert Scott descends from Hannah Ricketts Buchanan as follows according to his genealogy chart which was posted on 23andMe.com:
Relationship of Robert Scott to Robert Ricketts Senior:
Robert Ricketts Senior and Susannah Wilson, parents of Hannah Ricketts
Hannah Ricketts (daughter), wife of Wilson Buchanan
David Buchanan (grandson), a son of Hannah Ricketts and Wilson Buchanan
Rebecca Buchanan (great granddaughter), a daughter of David Buchanan and Edith Hankins
Blanche Rogers (2nd great granddaughter), a daughter of John Rogers and Rebecca Buchanan
Cleo Martin (3rd great granddaughter), a daughter of John Martin and Blanche
Rogers (Cleo Martin was a grandmother of Robert Scott)
??? Scott (4th great grandson), a son of Horace Scott and Cleo Martin
Robert Scott (5th great grandson), the husband of ?? and the father of Elisa Scott
Relationship of Curtis Lynn Older to Robert Ricketts Senior:
Robert Ricketts Senior and Susannah Wilson, parents of John Ricketts
John Ricketts (son), husband of Mary Goodner
Jacob Ricketts (grandson), husband of Melissa Barnard
Eliza Jane Ricketters (great granddaughter), wife of Daniel Alexander Fox
Ethel Belle Fox (2nd great granddaughter), wife of Robert William Gouty
Mavis Lorene Gouty (3rd great granddaughter), wife of Truxton James Older
Curtis Lynn Older (4th great grandson), husband of Linda Sue Older
Therefore, Curtis is a 5th cousin, once removed, of Robert Scott. The DNA tests appear to prove the genealogical research that has been done by both Curtis Older and Robert Scott.
Robert Scott and Curtis Older share 0.16% DNA shared across 1 segment
Our predicted relationship is 5th cousin (3rd to distant cousin)
Curtis is a 4th great grandson of Robert Ricketts Senior and Robert Scott is a 5th great grandson of Robert Ricketts Senior.
APPENDIX THREE
Land records for Switzerland and Ohio Counties in Indiana in the early 1800s showed the following:
Indiana Pioneer Period Maps
Page 4. T 3 N, R 1 W of 1st P.M. Ohio County
Peter White NE1/4-S6; 6-9-1815
Robert Drake NW1/4-S8; 6-181814
Robert Rickets NE1/4-S17; 11-28-1804
Robert Rickets SE1/4-S17; 11-22-1813
Cincinnati District - Vol 1 - Ohio County
Garret Larew SE1/4-S23; 8-5-1815
Benjamin Larew SW1/4-S23; 8-5-1815
Robert Ricketts SE1/4-S24; 11-26-1813. Vol. II, p. 72 says Ricketty
